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How the Pentagon Overrode Obama on Afghanistan – Why We Need to Get the Hell Out – Part 2

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Bob Woodward’s “Obama’s Wars” Gives Us Ringside Seats in How Pentagon “Rolled” the President

It’s amazing, isn’t it, how quickly Afghanistan can fall off the front page or off the news cycle. And then something horrible will bring it back. But only briefly.

Like in this news, an Afghan guy dressed in a soldier’s uniform drove into a crowd that had gathered to see what US and NATO troops were up to in their neighborhood park. The guy donated a bomb – and people were killed – including 3 American soldiers. The park was in a relatively peaceful area of northern Afghanistan.

Then, there’s “news” that seems to tell us ‘everything is okay, and everything is under control’, what with the new security arrangement between the U.S. and the Karzai government. On April 8th, it was announced that we and Afghanistan had signed a deal on the despised US-led night military operations – long an “obstacle to a long-term strategic partnership between the two countries, including a U.S. military presence in Afghanistan after 2014, when all foreign combat troops are set to leave the country.”   [Read more…]

Ocean Beach Planning Board Elects Officers for New Term

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Port Commissioner and candidate for Congress Scott Peters shares news about plans for San Diego Embarcadero, offers warning about UT San Diego stadium proposal for marine terminal.

On March 13th, the OB Planning Board held its annual election to select half of its membership. A new term brought new leadership—and a few new faces—to the Ocean Beach Planning board.

  [Read more…]

Ocean Beach Planning Board to Elect Officers and Listen to Scott Peters Campaigning for Congress

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On Wednesday, April 4th, at their regular monthly meeting, the Ocean Beach Planning Board will elect new officers for the next year. The selection of Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary – the principle positions – is an annual ritual completed after the latest annual Board election. The election was held on March 13th, and the Board will presumptively certify the election results.

Also on the agenda is Scott Peters, who ostensibly, is giving a report on news from the San Diego Port District because he is a Port Commissioner. But as we all know, Scott Peters is also running for the Congressional seat in the 52nd District, which does include OB. So, he’ll be there to expound on his campaign. Peter’s Democratic opponent, former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, will not be there. Peters is expected to report on the Convention Center expansion and the North Embarcadero “Visionary Project”.   [Read more…]

OB Planning Board election results … and vacancies still exist

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On March 13th, the Ocean Beach Planning Board held its annual election. Every year, half of the seats on the 14 member Board are up for election, an election that residents, property owners, and business owners may participate in. Board terms are two years.

The Board meets twice monthly, with the General meeting held on the first Wednesday of every month. Two weeks later, the Project Review Committee – a sub-committee – then meets, to review and make recommendations to the full Board.

According to our Election Committee Chair Nancy Taylor the results are as follows:   [Read more…]

A Hopeful Youth Town Hall Meeting at Jacob Center in Lincoln Park

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This old dude was so tired that evening but there was no way I was going to miss a Town Hall Meeting with such a compelling theme as “Silence is Worse than Violence” – especially considering that a number of youth leaders decided that such a gathering was needed to begin a conversation for solutions to the problem. I love it when our children take the lead.

The night was kicked off with a bumping rap about how, “We got to rise up above it” followed by a spoken word piece about love and respect and honoring our ancestries and histories. Amen.

That set a tone that was soothing to my aging bones and the featured speaker and moderator of the evening, Kevin Powell, a prominent voice in the hip hop generation, jumped right in without missing a beat with anecdotes about the rough edges of his youth and how he turned it all around and has devoted his life to positive hopeful causes like ending violence, in keeping with why we were all gathered at the Joe & Vi Jacobs Center.   [Read more…]

OB Woman Re-United With Her Son After Going Through Government Wringer

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Editor: Here is an update on Larissa Danielli by OB blogger Gail Powell. Larissa, you may recall, was arrested November 3, 2011, in Ocean Beach when she returned to her Cape May apartment to find an adjacent apartment had caught on fire and firefighters had entered her unit. Medical marijuana was found and her troubles exploded. For three months, her young son was taken from her. Larissa has given her side of the story before, yet her travails just stagger the mind.

By Gail Powell

Last year, when a fire consumed the Ocean Beach apartment building where Larissa Danielli and her son, Silas resided, another fire of injustice and persecution started up that very day.

There were terrible consequences suffered by single mom Larissa and her sweet little boy who were doubly victimized by the tragedy that ensued.   [Read more…]

San Diego Women to Rally Against Attacks on International Women’s Day – March 8th

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Women from all over San Diego County will rally in front of the US Federal Courthouse in San Diego on Thursday, March 8th, to support women’s rights to contraception on International Women’s Day. The rally will be held from noon to 1pm, and the Courthouse is located at 940 Front Street, in downtown San Diego.

The rally will address a number of recent attacks on a woman’s right to contraception and family planning:

  • US Rep. Darrell Issa convenes a hearing about contraception with 5 men on the panel, and no women.
  • Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum touts the “dangers” of contraceptives and that sex is “only for purposes of procreation.”
  • Foster Friess, main donor to a super PAC for Rick Santorum, suggests women use aspirin as a contraception method.
  • Rush Limbaugh, on a national radio show, calls a young woman a slut and prostitute because she speaks out in favor of birth control.

  [Read more…]

City-Wide Committee of Planners Agree to Investigate Ocean Beach’s Issue With San Diego

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It worked. Last night’s outpouring of support and solidarity for the Ocean Beach planners in their fight with the City proved the ticket. The city-wide committee of neighborhood planners agreed with the OB Board that this issue of the City granting improper variances was indeed an issue worthy of study.

Formally known as the Council of Planning Committees (CPC), they voted unanimously last night to create a committee to specifically look into the issue of the variances and to facilitate a resolution. There was sympathy for the issue when it was brought up at the regular monthly meeting of the CPC last night, as it appears the same type of city granting of variances is occurring in other communities as well.   [Read more…]

Black Marketeers, Rejoice: Feds and Local Prosecutors Teaming Up Against Legal Weed

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The music video for Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “You Could Be Mine” concludes with a classic moment where Arnold Schwarzenegger, playing his Terminator character, considers assassinating singer Axl Rose.

When the Terminator’s computer brain deems Rose a “waste of ammo,” Arnold lowers his weapon and walks away, presumably to engage a more worthy target.

In 2010, employing a similar thought process as governor of California, Schwarzenegger changed small-time possession of marijuana from a misdemeanor to an infraction carrying a $100 fine.
  [Read more…]

Land Use and Housing Committee to consider “Property Value Protection Ordinance”

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The Committee Hearing is TODAY – Wednesday, September 14th at 2pm (please arrive at 1:30pm) at San Diego City Hall. You can RSVP through Facebook. The address is: San Diego City Hall, 202 C Street, 12th floor, San Diego, CA Housing Committee Ordinance would fine banks $1000 a day for failure to maintain foreclosed properties […]

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